Religion in Schools

[United Republic of S1lv]

Do you have free speech in Romania? If so start a petition, Protest , OR REVOLUTION!!

Do you have any idea what wealth the church has ?
Do you have any idea how much less the government could care about us ?

ok uumm immigrate?

[Turan Federasyonu]

I think it should be teached only informstively by the teachers who teach philosophy and social studies. It should be voluntarily selected subject.

[Divine Unity]

I don't think that specific religious extracurricular groups should be held in school either. And, I would say that it doesn't fall into the right to assembly, because the school(state) has to sponsor it using their time and funds violating the establishment clause.

In high school and community college, the Christian groups were antagonists in many cases using their faith to condemn other students. In high school, the Christian group decided that it would be heavily opposed to the school having a "Gay Straight Alliance" and brought the issue up to the school district. They also decided that standing in a circle at the flag pole, where everyone had to walk by from the busses, and praying to America was more important than allowing other students to get to class on time. Maybe I had a weird sense of humor or something back then, but my friends and I would stand in a group near them and read passages out of our Physics book..

Community college, the Christian Student Fellowship was incredibly active in pressing an agenda. Again, they opposed a new group starting.. and this was an interfaith meditation and prayer group that had a large number of Muslims. The group I organized got our member in the school paper to interview the guy in charge of CSF and we got some great quotes. "How do I know they're not hiding a bomb underneath those clothes? We shouldn't have this meditation group because we know there is only one true god and as such we're outright opposed to a prayer area on campus if it's to be used for more than the one true god." We used those quotes to get him impeached out of student senate(I guess I matured a little since HS, eh?)

I know anecdotal evidence doesn't mean that every group will act like this. But, having a specifically Christian group in school just seems to be redundant in general. You probably go to church at least once a week, and you probably go to some other church activity another day of the week, and you probably have Jesus camp during the summer time... how much Jesus do you really need?

If the Students want to have a group based on their faiths, then that should be fine. It's only a problem if the School Administration and/or Faculty favors that group over another, or promotes one Faith above another.

[Turan Federasyonu]

I think it should be teached only informstively by the teachers who teach philosophy and social studies. It should be voluntarily selected subject.

However, I am against giving place to the religous practice in the secular schools, because in a country (even former communist country as its in our case) where 97-98% percent of the people are Muslims the religous practice in the secular schools will create division among he students and open the doors to the fundamentalism

[The USOT]

I think it very much depends on the way in which it is taught.

I do very much beleive that religion should be taught in school as a counter to ignorance. So many people I find here in Britain have this bad thing to say or that bad thing to say about christianity or islam without having a clue what is going on, or citing something which their equally ignorant freinds/family/coworkers told them.
Multicultural studies is an important virtue to create more civil and respective individuals, but having a religion as the principle ethic of a school is imo a very bad thing.

My primary school for instance made us all sing hymns in the morning and was very, very religious. Christianity was forced upon our minds at a very young age (note this wasent a familial influence as my family are all strong atheists). Now I dont have any problem with being a christian, nor christianity as a whole, but when I think how I was insitutionalised to beleive in something before I could make a rational descision on it, it does make me annoyed at my old primary school.

[Turan Federasyonu]

I think it very much depends on the way in which it is taught.

I do very much beleive that religion should be taught in school as a counter to ignorance. So many people I find here in Britain have this bad thing to say or that bad thing to say about christianity or islam without having a clue what is going on, or citing something which their equally ignorant freinds/family/coworkers told them.
Multicultural studies is an important virtue to create more civil and respective individuals, but having a religion as the principle ethic of a school is imo a very bad thing.

My primary school for instance made us all sing hymns in the morning and was very, very religious. Christianity was forced upon our minds at a very young age (note this wasent a familial influence as my family are all strong atheists). Now I dont have any problem with being a christian, nor christianity as a whole, but when I think how I was insitutionalised to beleive in something before I could make a rational descision on it, it does make me annoyed at my old primary school.

yeah, the religous education may give values to the students and also protect them from liar religous propaganda

[Campinia]

Sweet Atheismo, the redundancy

I have just done the impossible, which is resisting to click on this link and waste my day/week on tvtropes.

[The USOT]

I think it very much depends on the way in which it is taught.

I do very much beleive that religion should be taught in school as a counter to ignorance. So many people I find here in Britain have this bad thing to say or that bad thing to say about christianity or islam without having a clue what is going on, or citing something which their equally ignorant freinds/family/coworkers told them.
Multicultural studies is an important virtue to create more civil and respective individuals, but having a religion as the principle ethic of a school is imo a very bad thing.

My primary school for instance made us all sing hymns in the morning and was very, very religious. Christianity was forced upon our minds at a very young age (note this wasent a familial influence as my family are all strong atheists). Now I dont have any problem with being a christian, nor christianity as a whole, but when I think how I was insitutionalised to beleive in something before I could make a rational descision on it, it does make me annoyed at my old primary school.

yeah, the religous education may give values to the students and also protect them from liar religous propaganda

By that do you mean teaching multiculturalism or forcing a religion on young children?

[New Manvir]

The only place religion has in a public school is in a comparative religions class.

Well, no, it also has a place in history classes, given the major effects it's had on why people have done things the way they have.

Well if you want to get nitpicky, sure.

[Odins Scandinavia]

My point is that Catholic teaching doesn't specify which parts of the Bible one can ignore. Especially when such parables are still taught as actions of God.

The Bible as a WHOLE is a guide to living a moral life, in addition to an ancient Jewish historical myths and explanations.
Now, obviously, we take the new testament a little more literally, partially because it was also written down within a relatively short time of it happening (as opposed to the Old Testament, which was often passed down via Oral Tradition for hundreds of years before being written down. And like any good game of telephone will tell you, people don't always get the details the same every time). Also, the Old Testament was often the attempts of the Jews to explain the world around them, and link them back to God.

Does Catholicism teach Creationism, and condemn Evolution?

Nope. But that's in the Bible...

Does Catholicism encourage violence?

No (you can make the crusades argument and all those other things, but I can make the: that's not really following Christian teachings argument, and bla bla bla... Look at the Church today, and tell me where Pope JP2 or Benedict has encouraged Violence).

Point is, the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, don't teach or think that God is vindictive, or that God is killing anyone. Point is, that people think Christianity does believe that God kills "non-believers" is precisely the reason WHY we need more public schools to have a class that teaches them the common misconceptions about different religions.
After 15 years of Catholic Schools, I'm still learning about what my faith actually teaches. We definitely need to encourage broad spectrum understandings of major faiths.

the pope promised a free ride to heaven for participating in the first crusade. when they got there, they killed every last person in jerusalem, jew, christian, muslim, agnostic, hindu, whatever, that they could find. thats called "church sanctioned genocide".



GE 4:15, DT 32:19-27, IS 34:8 God is a vengeful god.
EX 15:3, IS 42:13, HE 12:29 God is a warrior. God is a consuming fire.
EX 20:5, 34:14, DT 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, 29:20, 32:21 God is a jealous god.
LE 26:7-8, NU 31:17-18, DT 20:16-17, JS 10:40, JG 14:19, EZ 9:5-7 The Spirit of God is (sometimes) murder and killing.

The Bible as a WHOLE is a guide to living a moral life, in addition to an ancient Jewish historical myths and explanations.
Now, obviously, we take the new testament a little more literally, partially because it was also written down within a relatively short time of it happening (as opposed to the Old Testament, which was often passed down via Oral Tradition for hundreds of years before being written down. And like any good game of telephone will tell you, people don't always get the details the same every time). Also, the Old Testament was often the attempts of the Jews to explain the world around them, and link them back to God.

Does Catholicism teach Creationism, and condemn Evolution?

Nope. But that's in the Bible...

Does Catholicism encourage violence?

No (you can make the crusades argument and all those other things, but I can make the: that's not really following Christian teachings argument, and bla bla bla... Look at the Church today, and tell me where Pope JP2 or Benedict has encouraged Violence).

Point is, the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, don't teach or think that God is vindictive, or that God is killing anyone. Point is, that people think Christianity does believe that God kills "non-believers" is precisely the reason WHY we need more public schools to have a class that teaches them the common misconceptions about different religions.
After 15 years of Catholic Schools, I'm still learning about what my faith actually teaches. We definitely need to encourage broad spectrum understandings of major faiths.

Well, alright, I'll assume all you said is true. Although you should keep in mind that there are certain sects that takes the Bible literally. I know that the Catholic church, now, is generally peaceful.

on the popes: didnt they tell the irish church to cover up child molestation cases in the 90s? that was JP2. and wasnt Benedict in the hitler youth?

the bible AS A WHOLE teaches that women are property, slavery is acceptable, sex slavery is acceptable, selling your children as slaves is acceptable, religious murder is acceptable, genocide is acceptable, and killing deviants is acceptable.

"Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy or scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 1:20-21 NAB)

[Zeppy]

I would not mind the reference of religion in a comparative religion class, a history class or a philosophy class.

[Dazchan]

Just wondering - Mr Bananagrabber - what made you think I went to a christian school.

Because in Australia that shit isn't allowed in public schools. There are chaplains who are allowed to give presentations regarding what christians believe, which you can opt out of, but there's no way prayer is allowed.

Nope. Many Australian public schools, including the one at which I teach, have prayer as part of their routine.

[Keronians]

Yes, religion should be in school as a subject, or a category of a subject in which it is relevant, in school, especially considering the influence it has on the world.

Of course, education should remain secular, unlike what it is here now. In Spain, there are morning prayers every morning, and I believe that there is a lesson of church once a week as well in some schools.

Of course, it depends on the school. Some don't, but it's not banned by law.

[Bavaria-Swabia]

G'day, I live in Australia, just to let y'all know, and I was wondering what your opinion of Religion in Schools is? Recently a school in my area has stopped using the Lord's Prayer in school assemblies

if this is a public school/recent development i am amazed. anyway, the bible is really just a bad book. honestly, if people followed its teachings, we would most likely be in the dark ages

but anyway, prayer has no place in public schools, unless the nation is Iran.

Question:

There are kids ( mostly latino) in my school who wear rosary beads as necklaces. ALOT. As a non-Latino Catholic, I an irked by that. They aren't necklaces. Can/should a PUBLIC school be allowed to ban INCORRECT use of religious symbols?

you kidding? catholics would throw a fit

I know, I have. repeatedly. The local parish has sent out numerous newsletters. It's a terrible situation. DX
They refuse to aknowledge that it is innapropriate.

[Ceannairceach]

I know, I have. repeatedly. The local parish has sent out numerous newsletters. It's a terrible situation. DX
They refuse to aknowledge that it is innapropriate.

Point being? If they like the way it looks, they should be able to wear it. I wear upside down crosses, and that is my right. So is it their right to wear whatever they want.

[Odins Scandinavia]

if this is a public school/recent development i am amazed. anyway, the bible is really just a bad book. honestly, if people followed its teachings, we would most likely be in the dark ages

but anyway, prayer has no place in public schools, unless the nation is Iran.



you kidding? catholics would throw a fit

I know, I have. repeatedly. The local parish has sent out numerous newsletters. It's a terrible situation. DX
They refuse to aknowledge that it is innapropriate.

thought i read that wrong. rosary beads aint necklaces, i know. thought you meant to ban them XD but anyway, the school cant complain about wearing something wrong, only if it is offensive, like a profanity-laced t-shirt, or in a school with a dress code prohibiting religious clothing (jews and catholics would throw a fit therem i imagine.)

[Saint Jade IV]

Just wondering - Mr Bananagrabber - what made you think I went to a christian school.

Because in Australia that shit isn't allowed in public schools. There are chaplains who are allowed to give presentations regarding what christians believe, which you can opt out of, but there's no way prayer is allowed.

Compulsory Religious Education time delivered by laypeople or pastors of local churches, who are not trained teachers, says different. Furthermore, most public schools I went to or taught at had prayers on assemblies.

[Rationallia]

Should religion be taught in schools? And if so, which ones and why?

Also, should there be religious schools at all?

I think it should but leave it to where the religion is based to organize it Eg. Church run scripture classes.

(I know I posted this elsewhere by accident and it got shut down, oh well, here it is).

[Anthoniland]

Religion should not be taught in schools and I don't think that their should be religious schools. As I have always said religion and education should never mix because that just gives it more credibility.

[Gallade]

Religious schools don't really bother me that much. I went to one, parents decision. It all comes down to personal choice.

As for religion being taught in schools, i'd be for it if it was an optional module rather than a mandatory subject. I like how its progressed in Irish schools though, its less Catholic ideology more life education.

[Salvarity]

Religion should not be school unless they are Study religious Impact on History and not the religion itself. Religious School should be private and teach Religion only. Religious Schools shouldn't be able to pass a kid to a higher grade.

[Antipidoes]

Religious schools are OK as long as they are in no way state funded.
State schools should teach about religion as it has had a significant role in shaping the modern world, but it should be an intellectual discussion giving equal weight to all religions.

It should not be taught as it was in my school, (a state school with no religious connections) which was essentially, 'Here is what Christians believe, isn't it a good idea?'.

[Grave_n_idle]

Should religion be taught in schools? And if so, which ones and why?

Also, should there be religious schools at all?

I think it should but leave it to where the religion is based to organize it Eg. Church run scripture classes.

(I know I posted this elsewhere by accident and it got shut down, oh well, here it is).

Personally, I think schools should teach about religion, but should not teach religion itself.

That's what churches are for. If you want them. That should be your choice.

[Ifreann]

Didn't we have a thread on this yesterday or the day before?

[Ashmoria]

religion should not be taught in publically funded schools.

except for where they have historical impact. even then theology should only be discussed in passing.

in religiously run privately funded schools they can teach as much religion as they can fit in around the governmentally mandated subject matters. then they can teach whatever they want. the kids will learn the truth in the end by themselves anyway.